Pol Lt Gen Sanit said Mr. Pouangmalay was caught in possession of the counterfeit currency by special operations police in the lobby of a hotel on Krung Kasem Road in Pomprap Sattruphai district.

The police lay in wait at the hotel whereÂ the suspect was reported to have often delivered fake banknotes to customers from tourist spots in Yommarat, Bang Rak and Silom areas.

Mr Pouangmalay allegedly told police he had been offered 50,000 baht to collect the forged currency from a man called Saeng at the bus terminal in Mukdahan provinceÂ and deliver it to clients in Bangkok.

He was charged with having counterfeit foreign currency in his possession.